- Volta (album)
Infobox Album |
Name = Volta
Type =Studio album
Artist =Björk
Released =May 2 2007 (Japan )
Recorded = 2005 — 2007
Genre =Electronica , Alternative
Length = 51:03
Label = One Little IndianUniversal Music
Atlantic
Polydor
Producer =Björk
Mark BellTimbaland Danja
Reviews = *"The A.V. Club " (B+) [http://www.avclub.com/content/music/bjork link]
*"Allmusic " Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0zfuxzq5ldae link]
*"The Guardian " Rating|4|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2071412,00.html link]
*"Metro" Rating|5|5 [http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/music/article.html?in_article_id=47203&in_page_id=25 link]
*"The Observer " Rating|4|5 [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,2060129,00.html link]
*"Pitchfork Media " (5.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/42768-volta link]
*"Pop Matters " rating-10|7 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/33998/bjork-volta/ link]
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|hm3 [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=bjork link]
*"Rolling Stone " Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14149107/review/14187719/volta link]
*"NME " rating-10|8 [http://www.nme.com/reviews/bjork/8520 link]
*"Sputnikmusic" Rating|4|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=11984 link]
Last album = "(____surrounded):"
(2006)
This album = "Volta"
(2007)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Volta
Type = album
single 1 =Earth Intruders
single 1 date =April 9 ,2007
single 2 = Innocence
single 2 date =July 23 ,2007
single 3 =Declare Independence
single 3 date =January 1 ,2008
single 4 = Wanderlust
single 4 date =June 12 2008
single 5 =The Dull Flame of Desire
Single 5 date =September 29 2008 "Volta" is the Grammy-nominated [cite web | author= [http://www.grammy.com/ grammy.com] | year= 2007| title= "GRAMMY.com - 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations List"| url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_Show/list.aspx| accessdate=2007-12-06] sixth full-length studio album from
Iceland ic singerBjörk , a follow-up to 2004's "Medúlla " and comprises ten new tracks. In an interview done for dailyInternet publication Pitchfork, Björk talked for the first time about the theme of the album.cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Exclusive: Bjork Talks Volta for the Very First Time"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41528/Exclusive_Bjork_Talks_Volta_for_the_Very_F| accessdate=2007-03-05]The full album was accidentally made available on the UK
iTunes Store at midnight onApril 23 ,2007 for a total of six hours, two weeks before the album's official release date. [cite web | author= [http://www.macworld.co.uk/ macworld.co.uk] | year= 2007| title= "iTunes UK blunders with Bjork - iPod/iTunes - Macworld UK"| url=http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=17882| accessdate=2007-04-28] This led to the album being leaked online the following day. [cite web | author= [http://idolator.com/ idolator.com] | year= 2007| title= "iTunes Accidentally Flips Björk's Switch - Idolator"|url=http://idolator.com/tunes/leaks/itunes-accidentally-flips-bjrks-switch-255243.php| accessdate=2007-04-28]For this album, Björk used
brass instruments for almost all thesong s. These were sometimes sampled.The album attracted attention due to the inclusion of three tracks co-produced by
R&B record producer Timbaland . [cite web | author= [http://www.timeoff.com.au/ timeoff.com.au] | year= 2007| title= ":: Time Off :: Welcome"|url=http://www.timeoff.com.au/index1.php?area=Archive&pg=42&subarea=5632&sel=5632&showcontent=5632| accessdate=2007-05-25]The track titles were confirmed in an article on
MTV ,March 14 ,2007 , and confirmed in a post on [http://www.sprk.nl sprk.nl] ,20 March 2007 . [cite web | author= [http://www.sprk.nl/ sprk.nl] | year= 2007| title= "S p r k . - Post details: Sprk en de Bjork recensie"| url=http://www.sprk.nl/index.php?title=sprk_en_de_bjork_recensie&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1| accessdate=2007-03-23] One other track, "Trance" [cite web | author= [http://www.rollingstone.com/ rollingstone.com] | year= 2007| title= "Smoking Section: In the Studio With Björk, Bryan Ferry Covers Bob Dylan, Mark Ronson Goes Solo"| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/03/23/smoking-section-in-the-studio-with-bjork-bryan-ferry-covers-bob-dylan-mark-ronson-goes-solo/| accessdate=2007-03-24] , is rumored to appear as a future b-side. The track entitled "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" was retitled from the previous, "Energy". "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" uses a sample from Björk's previous project, "The Music from Drawing Restraint 9"."Volta" was released in three editions in the UK: a
digipak CD edition; a limited edition CD/DVD edition (featuringsurround audio in DTS); and a double vinyl edition. [cite web | author= [http://www.onelittleshop.com/ onelittleshop.com] | year= 2007| title= "One Little Indian"| url=http://www.onelittleshop.com/index.php?cPath=20_79_229| accessdate=2007-04-03] [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - NEW news (Volta 5.1, teasers, limited edition)"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12575&highlight=| accessdate=2007-04-03] The UK and Japanese editions of the album feature the Mark Bell Mix of "I See Who You Are" as a bonus track. [cite web | author= [http://www.play.com/ play.com] | year= 2007| title= "Play.com (UK) : Bjork - Volta : CD - Free Delivery"| url=http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/3304729/Volta/Product.html| accessdate=2007-04-03] [cite web | author= [http://www.hmv.co.jp HMV.co.jp] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork - Volta - HMV"|url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2538893| accessdate=2007-04-08] Later editions were released in regular jewelcases."Volta" spent nine weeks at number one on "Billboard"'s
Top Electronic Albums chart and in the first three months of release sold over half a million copies worldwide.Collaborators
A wide array of artists collaborated with Björk on material for the album.
Björk first contacted Timbaland about a possible collaboration in December 2005.Fact|date=September 2007 The first session took place in February 2006 in Studio 4 at
Manhattan Center Studios inNew York City ,USA [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Timbaland did 7 songs with Björk"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=9568&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=timbaland&start=0| accessdate=2007-01-27] [Radio interview with Timbaland on Tim Westwood show on BBC Radio 1,2007 -07-05 .] [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Timbaland talks about Björk"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=11706&highlight=| accessdate=2007-02-07] , soon after Björk had visitedBanda Aceh in February 2006 to view some ofUNICEF 's work with the children who were affected by the tsunami - in May 2005 Björk released the charity album "" to help UNICEF's work in the south east Asian region. [ [http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/photogalleries/gallery.asp?gallery_id=29&nodeid=g29 Björk visits UNICEF's work in Banda Aceh photo gallery] ] Björk's experiences in Indonesia led to the track "Earth Intruders ", originally a ten-minute jam which Björk then subsequently edited for the album version. Björk collaborated on seven tracks in total with Timbaland. [cite web | author= [http://www.mcp-studios.com/news.php mcp-studios.com] | year= 2007| title= "archive.org : Manhattan Center Studios | Audio Dept. | News"| url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060325221642/http://www.mcp-studios.com/news.php| accessdate=2007-01-27] Timbaland had stated that he intended one of the tracks he did with Björk to appear on his new solo album but this did not materialise. [TV interview with Timbaland on MTV Live on MTV Canada,2007 -01-31 . [http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=464024792 Video] .] [cite web | author= [http://www.7digital.com/ 7digital.com] | year= 2007| title= "7digital.com - Timbaland - Shock Value"| url=http://www.7digital.com/stores/productDetail.aspx?shop=34&sid=1115179| accessdate=2007-04-03] The lead-off single from "Volta", "Earth Intruders", is co-produced by Timbaland, as well as the second single "Innocence"; the album track "Hope" is co-written by Timbaland. [cite web | author= The Observer| year= 2007| title= "10 essential albums for spring"| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2030991,00.html#article_continue| accessdate=2007-03-11] cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Bjork Announces Tour Dates, Talks Timbaland Collab"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41776/Bjork_Announces_Tour_Dates_Talks_Timbaland_Collab| accessdate=2007-03-19] Björk has stated that the other Timbaland tracks are unlikely to ever be released. [cite web | author= [http://www.drownedinsound.com drownedinsound.com] | year= 2007| title= "Drowned in Sound - Features - "I’m just doing my best to escape boredom": DiS questions Björk about Volta and beyond"| url=http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1900868| accessdate=2007-04-28]Antony Hegarty , frontman and lead singer of the bandAntony and the Johnsons , appears on the album for two duets—"The Dull Flame of Desire" and "My Juvenile". [cite web | author= [http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/ antonyandthejohnsons.com] | year= 2007| title= "Antony and the Johnsons news"| url=http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/news/news.html=| accessdate=2007-02-08] cite web | author= [http://www.mtv.com/ mtv.com] | year= 2007| title= "MTV News - Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta"| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1554591/20070314/bjork.jhtml| accessdate=2007-03-14] The collaborative sessions took place inJamaica . [cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk and Anthony Collaboration up in the Air"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/2006/7/5/Antony_Bj%F6rk+Collaboration_up_in_the_Air_#37229| accessdate=2007-01-27]Björk has also put together her own fourteen-piece
brass section of female Icelandic musicians who play on three tracks on the album. Its members comprise Sylvía Hlynsdóttir, Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir, Dröfn Helgadóttir, Valdís Þorkelsdóttir, Karen J. Sturlaugsson, Björk Níelsdóttir, Sigrún Jónsdóttir, Harpa Jóhannsdóttir, Vilborg Jónsdóttir, Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir, Erla Axelsdóttir, Særún Pálmadóttir, Lilja Valdimarsdóttir and Brynja Guðmundsdóttir. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "LYRICS"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/lyrics/| accessdate=2007-05-07]Other collaborators include
Brian Chippendale (Drummer ),Chris Corsano (Drummer),Toumani Diabaté (Mali an kora player), Mark Bell (Musician andrecord producer ),Sjón (Lyricist ; contributed lyrics to one song on the album [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "It has begun, the new year!"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=602;year=2007| accessdate=2007-02-22] ),Konono N°1 (Musical group fromKinshasa ,Democratic Republic of the Congo [cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Konono Record With Björk"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/37522/Konono_Record_With_Bjork| accessdate=2007-01-27] ), Damian Taylor (Programmer, Engineer),Michael Pärt (Music Producer) andMin Xiao-Fen (Chinesepipa player).Tracklisting
All tracks written by Björk except where noted.
#"Earth Intruders " (Björk, Timothy Mosley, Nate Hills) – 6:13
#"Wanderlust" (Björk,Sjón ) – 5:51
#"The Dull Flame of Desire " (featuring Antony Hegarty) – 7:30
#"Innocence" (Björk, Timothy Mosley, Nate Hills) – 4:26
#"I See Who You Are" (Mark Bell, Björk) – 4:21
#"Vertebrae by Vertebrae" – 5:07
#"Pneumonia" – 5:13
#"Hope" (Björk, Mosley) – 4:02
#"Declare Independence " (Bell, Björk) – 4:10
#"My Juvenile" (featuring Antony Hegarty) – 4:01Bonus tracks
* "I See Who You Are" [Mark Bell Mix] – 4:06
**Available on UK and Japanese editions and with pre-order from U.S.iTunes Store
* "Earth Intruders" [Mark Stent Extended Edit] – 4:26
**Available from iTunes
* "Innocence" [Mark Stent Mix] – 4:21
**Available from iTunesA 3-disc special edition of the album named 'Volta Revisited' was rumoured to be released at the end of March 2008, and some online music shops made the album available for pre-order. 'Volta Revisited' will include all the remixes and videos from the "Volta" era.cite web | author= [http://forum.bjork.fr/ forum.bjork.fr] | year= 2007| title= "single / clip Declare Independence réalisé par Michel Gondry - bjork fr - Forum Söfftchevaliers "| url=http://forum.bjork.fr/index.php?showtopic=7023&st=150|accessdate=2009-01-03] Additionally, the release will contain a live performance with her current live band recorded at London's
Olympic Studios onJune 25 ,2007 , [cite web | author= [http://blog.bjork.com blog.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "The Journey Itself Is Home - A Recording Session"| url=http://blog.bjork.com/2007/06/25/a-recording-session/| accessdate=2008-01-03] shortly after her headline performance atGlastonbury Festival . It was originally announced onSeptember 4 ,2007 as the "Live Sessions Album", and was thought of as being a separate release. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com / news - EMA nomination and Live Album Sessions"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=691;year=2007| accessdate=2008-01-03] It's unknown if some B-Sides of the Volta era will be included on this release.The lead single from "Volta" was "
Earth Intruders ", released digitally onApril 9 ,2007 , though leaked onApril 6 ,2007 . [cite web | author= [http://www.allaccess.com/ allaccess.com] | year= 2007| title= "All Access Music Group"| url=http://www.allaccess.com/mainFrame.php?url=/site/home/index.php%3Fbs=sp%26sn=home%26d=alternative%26f=home%26ng=alternative%26ag=42| accessdate=2007-03-07] [cite web | author= [http://fmqb.com/ fmqb.com] | year= 2007| title= "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!"| url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?t=p&id=16770|accessdate=2007-03-10] Originally expected to be released as a physical single onMay 21 ,2007 , the release was instead replaced by another digital release, "Earth Intruders - Club Mixes", via iTunes.The second single from "Volta" was originally meant to be "Declare Independence", but due to the worldwide success of "Volta" Björk had to perform more international promotion work than her label
One Little Indian had originally planned, meaning that the previously-planned video shoot for "Declare Independence" withMichel Gondry in London couldn't take place. The deadline for the music video contest for "Innocence" (originally announced onMarch 19 ,2007 ) was then brought forward a month toJune 10 ,2007 so as to provide a finished video able to coincide with the July release originally planned for Declare Independence. "Innocence", the otherTimbaland -co-produced track, was released digitally across the globe onJuly 23 ,2007 . It was announced that the release would be available in the US onJuly 31 ,2007 , [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "Innocence is to be made as video"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=626;year=2007| accessdate=2007-04-20] though this date was moved later."Declare Independence" was released as the third single from "Volta" on
January 1 ,2008 . [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com / news - Spring Tour 2008"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=727;year=2007#news|accessdate=2007-11-27] The video, directed byMichel Gondry (his seventh video with Björk, and the first since 1997's "Bachelorette"), was premiered on AOL on6 December ,2007 and onChannel 4 in the UK onDecember 13 ,2007 . [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - C4 Video Exclusive"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=17961|accessdate=2007-12-24] [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.fr/ bjork.fr] | year= 2007| title= "Declare Independence : clip en décembre + single en janvier - bjork.fr news, forum, photos, concert 2007 / 2008, Volta, Live Session Album"| url=http://bjork.fr/+1ere-photos-du-clip-Declare+.html|accessdate=2007-11-27] Amaking-of was made available onNovember 29 ,2007 . [cite web | author= [http://www.spinner.com/ spinner.com] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork, The Making of... 'Declare Independence' - Video Exclusive - Spinner.com - Free MP3s, Interviews, Music News, Live Performances, Songs and Videos"| url=http://www.spinner.com/2007/11/29/bjork-the-making-of-declare-independence-video-exclusive/|accessdate=2007-11-30] The video shoot took place onOctober 11 ,2007 inNew York City . [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Pictures from Declare Independence"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=675429&highlight=#675429|accessdate=2007-11-27] Unlike the first two singles from "Volta", the single will have a physical release in the form of two 12” Vinyls, a CD and a DVD. [cite web | author= [http://musicnonstop.co.uk/ musicnonstop.co.uk] | year= 2007| title= "MusicNonStop.co.uk"| url=http://musicnonstop.co.uk/product-view.php?productid=20518|accessdate=2007-12-06]A video was also shot for the track "Wanderlust", [cite web | author= [http://living.scotsman.com/ living.scotsman.com] | year= 2007| title= "Scotsman.com Living - Music - 'I have a lot of respect for people like Debussy'"| url=http://living.scotsman.com/music.cfm?id=1350132007|accessdate=2007-11-27] directed by Encyclopedia Pictura and shot in New York City in stereoscopic 3D.cite web | author= [http://newyork.craigslist.org/ newyork.craigslist.org] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork Music Video seeking Compositors, Rotoscopers, and CG Artists"| url=http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cpg/476694784.html|accessdate=2007-11-27] The video involves "a mixture of large scale
puppeteering , live actionacrobatics ,miniatures , andCG ". The video and single were released in February, 2008. [cite web | author= [http://studiodaily.com/ studiodaily.com] | year= 2007| title= "Making a 3D Music Video for Björk | Studio Daily"| url=http://studiodaily.com/main/technique/casestudies/8811.html|accessdate=2007-12-06] The video was choreographed by Chris Elam, artistic director of [http://www.misnomer.org Misnomer Dance] , and features Brynne Billingsley and Coco Karol.It was reported on the official site of
Antony and the Johnsons that Antony Hegarty and Björk had shot a video for "The Dull Flame of Desire". [cite web | author= [http://antonyandthejohnsons.com/ antonyandthejohnsons.com] | year= 2007| title= "Antony and the Johnsons news"| url=http://antonyandthejohnsons.com/news/news.html|accessdate=2007-12-06] The news was subsequently removed from the site. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - You WILL See The Dull Flame Of Desire"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=17869&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40|accessdate=2007-12-06] . Then Björk in a recent interview said that she and Antony have recorded themselves singing the song on a green screen, and that she sent the video to three directors of the Innocence video contest, and that they're doing the Dull Flame Of Desire video together via e-mail. Björk's official website finally confirmed "The Dull Flame of Desire" to be the fifth single from "Volta" on July 31, 2008, also crediting the following "Innocence" Competition Applicants as the promotional video's directors: Cristoph Jantos, Masahiro Mogari, and Marçal Cuberta Junca. The single will be released in a 2x12" CD/DVD Box Set on September 29, 2008.Promotion
As part of the marketing campaign for the album, a series of cryptic videos were circulated on various websites, specifically via
YouTube andMySpace . The videos contained distorted audio samples and snippets of the lyrics from some of the tracks on "Volta". The videos were discovered onMarch 28 ,2007 , though one of the videos had been uploaded to YouTube as early asMarch 19 ,2007 .cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Possible slight leak on youtube?"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12546&highlight=| accessdate=2007-03-29] A mysterious MySpace profile ( [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=170861582 link] ) was then discovered onMarch 28 ,2007 which featured another cryptic video and four new audio samples. The profile belonged to a fictitious "Gerome Voltaire" (a play on "Alessandro Volta", the inventor of the electric battery) of the band "itshardtofindabandname" from Iceland. An article on Pitchfork onMarch 29 ,2007 later confirmed the authenticity of theviral marketing campaign. [cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Bjork Trickling Out Volta Teasers"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/42003-bjork-trickling-out-ivoltai-teasers| accessdate=2007-03-31] Apodcast shot by Ragnheidur Gestsdóttir detailing the album's production was made available oniTunes onApril 10 ,2007 - six episodes were made for download, though the final installment cuts out before the video ends. As of yet, the podcast hasn't been fixed byiTunes . [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - björk podcast - video"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=13176| accessdate=2007-04-15]On
April 21 ,2007 , Björk appeared as musical guest on an episode of the U.S.comedy -variety show "Saturday Night Live " in promotion of the album. She performed the songs "Earth Intruders " and "Wanderlust". [http://www.culturebully.com/archives/3117] [ [http://www.mulley.net/2007/04/23/bjork-on-saturday-night-live-apri-2007/ Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Bjork on Saturday Night Live Apri 2007 ] ] [ [http://snlarc.jt.org/ep.php?i=200704218 SNL Archives | Episode.] RetrievedAugust 25 ,2007 .]On
June 8 ,2007 (recorded onJune 5 ,2007 ), Björk performed on the contemporary UKmusic show "Later With Jools Holland " for the fifth time in her solo career. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.fr/ bjork.fr] | year= 2007| title= "Later with Jools Holland - bjork.fr news, forum, photos, concert 2007 / 2008, Volta, Live Session Album"| url=http://www.bjork.fr/Volta-Later-Jools-Holland.html| accessdate=2007-12-06] She performed the songs "Earth Intruders ", "The Anchor Song ", and "Declare Independence ."On
September 27 ,2007 , she appeared on the American late nighttalk show "Late Night with Conan O'Brien ", performing the song "Wanderlust". [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "Late Night With Conan O'Brien... and Björk!"| url=http://bjork.com/news/?id=696;year=2007| accessdate=2007-12-06] This show was after her headlining performance at a sold out show atMadison Square Garden .Alleged "Return to Pop"
In the run-up to the release of the album, many media outlets were lauding the album as a return to the supposed "pop" sound of Björk's earlier solo albums "
Debut " and "Post". This was due in part to the inclusion of three tracks co-produced byrecord producer Timbaland ; in interviews before the album's release he had stated that seven of the tracks he worked with Björk on would end up on her album, [cite web | author= [http://www.grounduphiphop.com/ grounduphiphop.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk & Timbaland @ Ground Up HipHop - Hip Hop news, reviews and mixtape"| url=http://www.grounduphiphop.com/2006/08/10/bjork-timbaland/| accessdate=2007-10-21] seemingly indicating that there would be more of Timbaland's involvement on the record than there eventually was. At the time Timbaland had also had recent hits withJustin Timberlake (SexyBack ) andNelly Furtado (Promiscuous andManeater ), with him and his protégéDanja being responsible for some of the biggest hits of 2006 and 2007. As the news of Björk having worked with Timbaland spread across the internet, many websites started speculating on whether the album would be "hip hop " flavoured; in one interview Timbaland himself referred to the upcoming album as "hip hop". [cite web | author= [http://gossip.elliottback.com/ gossip.elliottback.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk & Timbaland by The Gossip Rag"| url=http://gossip.elliottback.com/2006/10/21/bjork-timbaland/| accessdate=2007-10-21]The online music magazine Pitchfork, in their exclusive first interview with Björk for the promotion of "Volta", quoted Björk as saying that the new album would be "full-bodied and really up". This was taken by fans as further evidence of a more "pop" album (as compared to her more recent output). A week later the head of Björk's record company, Derek Birkett, heralded the new album as "the most commercial thing she's ever done" in
Music Week , the trade paper for the UK record industry. [cite web | author= [http://www.atforumz.com/ atforumz.com] | year= 2007| title= "Info About The New Album - Page 6 - @forums"| url=http://www.atforumz.com/showpost.php?p=5089560&postcount=76| accessdate=2007-10-21]Björk has since stated that the media effectively "got it wrong" with regard to their coverage of the albumFact|date=November 2007, insisting that the album was not "hip hop" (and that she had not intended for it to be so either). She said that she did not want to work with Timbaland as a "hitmaker", or because of his affiliation to a particular genre, but wanted to work with him solely as a musician in his own right. She has also said that
One Little Indian "always feel that ‘my latest release is the most commercial to date’", [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "björk : about"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/about/right.php?id=1384| accessdate=2007-10-21] and that she feels "Volta" is no more commercial than any of her previous work.Volta Worldwide Tour
Björk went on an 18 month tour in support of the album, which was her first tour in four years. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com : gigOgraphy"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/gigography/2003.htm| accessdate=2007-02-01] On the tour, which was conducted on a month-on/month-off basis, Björk performed with fourteen musicians on stage. Björk's touring band for this tour constisted of drummer Chris Corsano, musician Mark Bell (who also accompanied Björk on the Homogenic tour), pianist Jónas Sen (who played celeste on the tracks Gratitude and Cetacea on the "Drawing Restraint 9" soundtrack), musician Damian Taylor and a 10 piece female
Iceland ic brass section. [cite web | author= [http://www.silverfoxpercussion.com/ silverfoxpercussion.com] | year= 2007| title= "Silverfox Percussion - News"| url=http://www.silverfoxpercussion.com/news.html| accessdate=2007-01-26] ["Wire Magazine 277" - March 2007, pg 8, "Bitstream"] Timbaland did not join Björk on the tour. Björk had described the tour as "kind of primitive, raw, almost butch", in marked contrast to her 2001 tour for "Vespertine".cite web | author= [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ nzherald.co.nz] | year= 2007| title= "Ice Queen Bjork cometh, turn off the phone - 27 Nov 2007 - NZ Herald: Entertainment News, Reviews and Gossip from New Zealand and around the World"| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10478556| accessdate=2007-11-27] At several of the concerts Björk had been joined on stage by some of the musicians who collaborated on the album (but who are not part of the touring band), including Antony Hegarty, Min Xiao-Fen and Toumani Diabaté. Many of the live performances from the current tour can be viewed on thevideo sharing websiteYouTube , shot by people in the audience. However, Björk has voiced her dislike of fans recording video/taking pictures (with flash) at her concerts using theirmobile phone s ("little cameras"), stating that it affects her ability to perform. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - "Holding your little cameras""| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=17668| accessdate=2007-11-26] The tour is taking Björk to countries that she has not played in for over a decade, including Mexico, Brazil, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.Although not part of her touring schedule, Björk performed three songs [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com : gigOgraphy"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/gigography/sub.php?id=32| accessdate=2007-04-03] at a benefit concert at Club NASA in Reykjavík on April 1 for [http://forma.go.is/ FORMA] , an Icelandic organisation which deals with people who have eating disorders. [cite web | author= [http://nasa.is/ nasa.is] | year= 2007| title= "Nasa - Viðburðir"| url=http://nasa.is/index.php?option=com_n-nasa-ticket&Itemid=24&do=view_event&event_id=167| accessdate=2007-03-15] Tour rehearsals began after this performance.cite web | author= [http://www.mbl.is/ mbl.is] | year= 2007| title= "Mbl.is - Frétt - Æft fyrir tónleika Bjarkar"| url=http://www.mbl.is/mm/folk/frett.html?nid=1259287| accessdate=2007-03-16] Björk's touring schedule throughout 2007 and 2008 was as follows.
2007
First leg
*
Laugardalshöll inReykjavík , Iceland on April 9
* Coachella Festival inIndio ,California in theUSA on April 27 [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "The First Gig: Coachella"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=603;year=2007| accessdate=2007-01-24]
*Radio City Music Hall inNew York City , USA on May 2
*United Palace Theater in New York City, USA on May 5 [cite web | author= [http://www.nysun.com/ nysun.com] | year= 2007| title= "Rev. Ike Opens His Palace - March 6, 2007 - The New York Sun"| url=http://www.nysun.com/article/49840?page_no=1| accessdate=2007-03-06] (This concert was broadcasted on radio byWNYC )
*Apollo Theater inNew York City , USA on May 8
*Auditorium Theatre inChicago , USA on May 12
* Red Rocks,Morrison, Colorado , USA on May 15 [cite web | author= [http://www.ticketmaster.com/ ticketmaster.com] | year= 2007| title= "Official Ticketmaster site. Björk tickets Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO, Directions, seating chart."| url=http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1E003E5AC76A7312?artistid=753508&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60| accessdate=2007-03-06]
*Shoreline Amphitheatre inMountain View, California , USA on May 19
*Deer Lake Park inVancouver ,Canada on May 23
*Sasquatch! Music Festival inGeorge, Washington , USA on May 26 [cite web | author= [http://pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Sasquatch!: Arcade Fire, Bjork, M.I.A., Interpol, Spoon"| url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41271/Sasquatch_Arcade_Fire_Bjork_M_I_A_Interpol_| accessdate=2007-02-21]econd leg
*
Glastonbury Festival inGlastonbury ,England on June 22 [cite web | author= [http://www.nme.com/ nme.com] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork confirmed for Glastonbury"| url=http://www.nme.com/news/bjork/26033| accessdate=2007-01-24] (This concert was broadcasted onBBC Four (and later onBBC Two ) by theBBC )
*Rock Werchter festival inWerchter ,Belgium on June 28 [cite web | author= [http://www.rockwerchter.be/ rockwerchter.be] | year= 2007| title= "Rock Werchter 2007"| url=http://www.rockwerchter.be/RW2007/fase1/index.asp| accessdate=2007-02-09]
*Heineken Open'er Festival inGdynia ,Poland on July 1 [cite web | author= [http://www.opener.pl/ opener.pl] | year= 2007| title= "o p e n ' e r f e s t i v a l - n e w s"| url=http://www.opener.pl/news_current_en.html| accessdate=2007-01-31]
*Roskilde Festival inRoskilde ,Denmark on July 7 [cite web | author= [http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/ roskilde-festival.dk] | year= 2007| title= "Roskilde Festival"| url=http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/object.php?obj=822000c&base=5c1a2e7e&Letter=alle&code=45| accessdate=2007-01-31] (This concert was broadcasted on radio byP3 and laterRTÉ )
*Open air concert in the Westerpark inAmsterdam ,The Netherlands on July 8 [cite web | author= [http://www.mojo.nl/ mojo.nl] | year= 2007| title= "Mojo concerts"| url=http://www.mojo.nl/agenda/evenement.asp?pid=1217| accessdate=2007-04-07]
*Guggenheim Museum Bilbao inBilbao , Basque country on July 13
*La Granja de San Ildefonso inSegovia , Spain on July 15
* La Plaza de Toros de las Ventas inMadrid , Spain on July 18
* No Borders Music Festival inCodroipo ,Italy on July 21
*Paléo Festival inNyon ,Switzerland on July 25 [cite web | author= [http://www.genevalunch.com/ genevalunch.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk to star at Paléo Festival in Nyon | GenevaLunch| url=http://www.genevalunch.com/node/3004| accessdate=2007-02-14]Third leg
*
Arena of Nîmes inNîmes ,France on August 21cite web | author= [http://www.nimes.fr/ nimes.fr] | year= 2007| title= "Concert à Nîmes"| url=http://www.nimes.fr/| accessdate=2007-01-31]
*Arena of Nîmes in Nîmes, France on August 23
*Rock en Seine inParis , France in August 26 [cite web | author= [http://www.rockenseine.com/ rockenseine.com] | year= 2007| title= "Rock en Seine 2007"| url=http://www.rockenseine.com/| accessdate=2007-02-01]
*Electric Picnic inLaois ,Republic of Ireland on August 31 [cite web | author= [http://www.muse.ie/ muse.ie] | year= 2007| title= "First acts for Electric Picnic"| url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/first-acts-for-electric-picnic/spId/943650F4-CA04-7494-C22E33D09E09A93D.html/| accessdate=2007-01-28]
*Connect Music Festival in Argyll,Scotland on September 2 [cite web | author= [http://www.connectmusicfestival.com/content/] ]
*Virgin Festival inToronto ,Canada on September 8 [cite web | author= [http://www.canada.com/ canada.com] | year= 2007| title= "Rock en Seine 2007"| url=http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=276d3ae5-5376-4849-adff-57ca5041f9f6&k=99398| accessdate=2007-03-15]
*Fox Theatre inDetroit , USA on September 11cite web | author= [http://pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Bjork Comes Back to North America This Fall"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44236-bjork-comes-back-to-north-america-this-fall| accessdate=2007-07-15]
*Austin City Limits Festival inAustin, Texas , USA on September 14 [cite web | author= [http://pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork, Arcade Fire, Stripes, Wilco Play Austin City Limits "| url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42855-bjork-arcade-fire-stripes-wilco-play-austin-city-limits| accessdate=2007-07-15]
*Fox Theatre inAtlanta , USA on September 17
*Jacques-Cartier Pier inMontreal , Canada on September 21
*Madison Square Garden in New York City, USA on September 24Fourth leg
*TIM Festival in
Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil on October 26
*TIM Festival inSão Paulo , Brazil on October 28
*TIM Festival inCuritiba , Brazil on October 31
*Gran Rex inBuenos Aires ,Argentina on November 4
*Gran Rex in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 7
*Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo inSantiago, Chile on November 10 [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/] | year= 2007 | title= "Björk Gigography"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/gigography/2007.htm]
*Vértice del Museo de la Nación inLima ,Perú on November 13
*Palacio de los Deportes inBogotá ,Colombia on November 17
*Sonofilia Festival in Huentitan Canyon, Guadalajara,Mexico on December 8 [cite web | author= [http://www.jornada.unam.mx] | year= 2007| title= "Björk se presentará por primera vez en México"| url=http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2007/09/02/index.php?section=espectaculos&article=a09n1esp&partner=rss| accessdate=2007-09-06]
*Nokia Theatre inLos Angeles , USA on December 12
*Pearl Concert Theatre in Las Vegas, USA on December 152008
Fifth leg
*
Big Day Out inAuckland ,New Zealand on January 18
*Big Day Out inGold Coast ,Australia on January 20
*Sydney Opera House forecourt (as part of theSydney Festival ) inSydney , Australia on January 23
*Big Day Out in Sydney, Australia on January 25(withdrew due to illness)
*Big Day Out inMelbourne , Australia on January 28
*Big Day Out inAdelaide , Australia on February 1
*Big Day Out in Perth, Australia on February 3
*Tennis Indoor Senayan inJakarta ,Indonesia on February 12
*Olympic Hall inSeoul ,South Korea on February 16
*Budokan inTokyo ,Japan on February 19
*Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on February 22
* Osaka Castle Hall inOsaka , Japan on February 25
* Hong Kong Asiaworld Arena inHong Kong ,China on February 28
*Shanghai Arena inShanghai ,China on March 2Sixth leg
*
Manchester Apollo inManchester ,England on April 11
*Hammersmith Apollo inLondon , England on April 14
* Hammersmith Apollo in London, England on April 17
* Hammersmith Apollo in London, England on April 20
*Plymouth Pavilions inPlymouth , England on April 22
*Wolverhampton Civic Hall inWolverhampton , England on April 25
*Waterfront Hall inBelfast ,Northern Ireland on April 28
*The Empress Ballroom inBlackpool , England on May 1
*(withdrew due to illness)Sheffield City Hall inSheffield , England on May 4eventh leg
*
Paris Olympia in Paris,France on June 25 (Filmed for possible future release)
*Nattúra festival inReykjavík , Iceland on June 28
*(cancelled)Sheffield City Hall inSheffield ,England on July 2 (rescheduled)
*(cancelled)Wild in the Country atKnebworth House inHertfordshire , England on July 5
*Finlandia Park in(cancelled)Helsinki ,Finland on July 10
*Vingio Park inVilnius ,Lithuania on July 13
*Arena Riga inRiga ,Latvia onJuly 16
*Melt! festival inFerropolis , Germany on July 20
*Parco della Musica inRome , Italy on July 25
*Arena di Verona inVerona , Italy on July 28
*Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens,Greece on July 31
*Kuruçeşme Arena inIstanbul ,Turkey on August 3
*Festival Sudoeste inZambujeira do Mar ,Portugal on August 7
*Ola Festival inEl Ejido ,Spain on August 15
*Langholtskirkja (church) inReykjavík ,Iceland on August 26 (Filmed for possible future release)Chart performance
ingles
References
External links
* [http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=602;year=2007/ First news] on [http://bjork.com/ bjork.com]
* [http://www.bjorkvolta.com/ Official "Volta" site]
* [http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/volta/ "Volta" mini-site]
* [http://comfortcomes.com/?page=reviews&id=1695 Volta Review]
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